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Rooftop Garden Considerations 0708

Page history last edited by PBworks 15 years, 10 months ago
Rooftop Gardens ~A Solution to No Pollution~

by Tess Fleming

 


Description and Rationale

 

 

  Looking over the city of Manila, we see the obvious pollution through the smog. Also, there is not much visible green in the city because of all the buildings and the population. There are new buildings being built every day, and the concrete makes the city look very grey. 

 

 A study by the University of the Philippines shows that of the people that have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPU), a disease caused by air pollution, 32.5 percent are jeepney drivers, 16.4 percent are air-conditioned bus drivers, and 13.8 percent are commuters. Also, up to 55 percent of the cases of bronchitis are due to pollution in the air (Philippines Air, Water Pollution Increasing Alarmingly).

The pollution also has the green house effect, which is caused by carbon dioxide reflecting the heat that is trying to get out of the atmosphere back to the earth. That is a cause of the intense heat in Manila. 

 

What can be done to reduce the air pollution as well as the temperature in the Metro Manila area? There are a few solutions, including rooftop gardens. 

 A rooftop garden is, as its name, a garden on top of a roof. In Switzerland, all new buildings must make up for the space it takes on the ground with greens on its roof. In Japan, there is a rooftop garden that covers 8,000 square meters, containing about 40,000 different kinds of plants. Measurements were taken of the green surfaces and concrete or asphalt surfaces, such as a roof top parking lot or near by highways, to compare the difference in temperature. The results were astonishing. It was found that there was a 17 degrees Celsius difference at peak hours. It was also found that inside the buildings with green plants on the roof were cooler than buildings with pavement (Japan for Sustainability).

 

What would be the best way to have a rooftop garden in Manila? What would be the best kind of plant, for the pollution, temperature, as well as the profit it will make through harvesting, if it is a harvestable plant? Would rooftop gardens be affordable for the people in Mania? If not, how could it be made possible? How much effect could it have if it was taken up?

 

If rooftop gardening was taken up in Manila on a large scale, there could be many benefits. Primarily, the pollution would be brought down to a lower level through the intake of carbon dioxide and the output of oxygen by the plants. Also, the temperatures in Manila could be lowered as well as the number of people with diseases caused mainly by air pollution. There would also need to be people to take care of the gardens, which would provide more jobs, and some people might find a way out of poverty. 

 The initial purpose of this project will be to research the biology and ecology of a plant suitable for rooftop gardening, through a search of literature. These initial findings will help guide the action stage, to solve these problems and spread the ideas to the people.

 It is hoped that, through this project, the Philippines will get one step, large or small, closer to a clean, healthy environment.

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Biology

 

Common Names and Synonyms

 

Solanum lycopersicum, whose scientific name means “wolf-fruit”, is also called the cherry tomato. It is also known by the names of wolf-apple or currant tomato. In Mexico, the name tomatl is used, and in France it is called poma amaris or “apple of love”.

 

Classification

 

 

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom: Tracheobionta

Phylum:  Magnoliophyta (flowering plant)

Class:  Magnoliopsida (dicots)

Subclass: Asteridae

Order:  Solanales 

Family:  Solanaceae (nightshade)

Genus:  Solanum (the nightshade plant)

Species:  S. lycopersicum (wolf-fruit)

 

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Morphology and Physical Description

 

 

 

The height of the cherry tomato plant can be from 1 to 7 feet tall. The stem and leaves are much like the tomato plant’s stems and leaves. The leaves are 6-14 inches long with 5-9 leaflets on them. Both the leaves and stem are covered in short, dense hair.

The flower is a small yellow flower, about ½-1 inch across, with 5 pointed petals. They are in groups of 3-12.

The fruit looks like a smaller version of the tomato, and can be as small as a thumb tip or as big as a golf ball. Some are sphere-shaped while others are slightly oblong. It is actually a berry.

 

 

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Getting Food

 

The cherry tomato is classified in the Plantae kingdom, and it gets its energy from the

sun, water, and carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. It also gets nutrients from the soil.

When planting cherry tomatoes, they should first be planted indoors. When they reach a height of about 7-11 inches, they should be carefully replanted outside.

The cherry tomato plant should be grown in warm, sunny areas. The soil temperature for germinating is 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit. They should be kept moist, but not waterlogged. The best temperature for growing tomatoes is between 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Reproduction

 

 

Cherry tomatoes reproduce through seeds contained in the fruit. The seeds can be spread by animals through their feces, or by the fruit ripening and falling on the ground. They then germinate naturally and reproduce every year.

 

Environmental Factors

 

 

The cherry tomato is more resistant to nematodes, a parasite, and other diseases than regular tomatoes, and keeps bearing for a long period, so it is easier to grow in the tropics.

There are many diseases that can have an effect on cherry tomatoes, though they are mostly not fatal. For example, there is Early Blight, where dark spots with rings develop on the leaves. The leaves affected may die. There is also Late Blight, which caused the Irish Potato Famine. Greasy looking, grey spots appear on the leaves, sometimes with white mold around them. (Jannotti) There are many other diseases, mainly caused from cool, wet weather, or hot, moist weather, but with good care, can be avoided.  

 

 

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Origin and Distribution

 

There are still arguments about the origin of the tomato species, but it is thought to have originated in the Andes Mountains in Peru, where there are still many species of wild tomatoes. Then, through cultivators, they slowly spread north to Central America, and continued to spread from there.

When the tomato was first introduced to the United States in 1710, it was considered poisonous, until as late as 1900.

In the present, the tomato has spread to North America, European countries, the Caribbean, and many Asian countries.

 

 

Importance to People

 

 

The cherry tomato, similar to other tomatoes, is used mainly for food such as salads, tomato sauces, and soup. They rank 16th of all fruits and vegetables as a source of vitamin A and 13th in vitamin C. They are also abundant in many other vitamins. They are very low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

They are also plants that are easy to grow, and can be used for rooftop gardens, gardens on balconies, as well as ordinary garden on the ground. They can be grown in pots, or just in the ground. For the above reasons, they are often used in farming and just for pleasure, and have a benefit on people.

 

Survivability and Endangered Status

 

Because cherry tomatoes are grown in many parts of the world, they are not endangered. They abundantly bear fruit for long periods of time, and can endure some harsh conditions, so are not expected to go extinct.  

 

 

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Potential Solutions

 

Is there a way to make a simple rooftop garden that is affordable and profitable, as well as one that is beneficial to the environment? This researcher has found that rooftop gardens, as well as increasing the number of plants, can lower the temperature and reduce the carbon dioxide in the emvironment. It was also found that a building with plants on top of it is significantly cooler than other buildings without plants. There seem to be many possibilities that would benefit the Filipinos both economically and environmentally, which would lead to reducing diseases caused mainly by air pollution. By introducing cherry tomatoes and rooftop gardens to Filipino people and letting them know what benefit that it might have on the environment, could a difference be made in this country? Below are 2 possibilities with an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages for each. 

 

Possibility 1 MAKING A ROOF TOP GARDEN

 

One way to contribute to the environment, specifically the air pollution problem, would be to make a rooftop garden. From research, it was found that many rooftop gardens require much material could be costly, and it would not be possible to make a rooftop garden on someone’s house here in the Philippines, since many Filipinos cannot afford to spend a great amount of money. However, there is another way to make a garden on the roof, which is much simpler and affordable. Plants could be planted in containers, the same way that it would be done on the ground or on a balcony, and set on the roof.

Advantages:

1. A profit could be made from the plants planted. A vegetable or fruit that can be grown in a container, easy to grow, and produces many fruits, such as the tomato or cherry tomato, could be planted, harvested, and sold. Even if the crops are not sold, they could be eaten.

2. It would have a good effect on the environment. By making a rooftop garden, there would be more plants, and through the photosynthesis of those plants, there would be, though a very small amount, more oxygen and less carbon dioxide in the air, which would help with the pollution in the Philippines and lead to the reduction of pollution related diseases. Also, if the benefits of the garden and how to make it was spread to the public, and more gardens were created, a better improvement would be made for the environment than if there was just one garden.

Disadvantages:

1. If the cherry tomatoes were to be planted now, they would not sprout or start growing in time to finish this project by the due date, May 5th, 2008. Also, there is a lack of time to get all the supplies to build the garden.

2. It would be possible to transplant cherry tomatoes, which would avoid starting them from seeds, but it is very difficult to find cherry tomato plants in the Philippines.

3. It is questionable weather the garden would be much of and interest to Filipinos, and even of the benefits were to be explained, they might have more important things to think about than the environment, such as how they would provide for their family’s immediate needs.

 

 

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Possibility 2 EDUCATE/ INTERVIEW PEOPLE (action step)

 

A second way to help the environment in the Philippines is to educate people about the problems and some solutions. I created a power point presentation about the air pollution that affects Filipinos and how rooftop gardens would lead to solving the problems. I also showed how to create a simple rooftop garden with containers, and explained that tomato plants would be one of many ideal things to grow.  I presented it to some Filipinas that live in the Metro Manila area. After the power point, they became more aware of the environmental problem and some simple solutions that can be done with a small amount of time and effort.

I also conducted a simple interview with them during and after the power point.

 

 

In Genesis 1 it says that God saw that His creation was ‘good’. How should we be taking care of something that God sees as ‘good’? By letting people know how to take good care of God’s creation, this earth, one step would be made closer to people in the Philippines taking care of the earth that God gave us. Also, by taking care of the earth, we would be saving our bodies from diseases caused by pollution, and be more able to work for God.

 

Advantages:

1. Though it is a very small step compared to how big the pollution problem is, if the people I tell go home and tell their families, and those people tell their friends, more people will end up knowing about the problem.

2. Filipinos will be more aware of the air pollution problem in the Philippines and will know some ways that can be done by almost anyone to help solve the problem.

3. If people know about the pollution problem, we are already one step closer to solving it.

 

Disadvantages:

1. Many people do not care much about the environment, and care about more personal problems rather than problems that would involve many people’s cooperation to solve. It may be hard to reach people like that.

2. Even if I tell people about building a rooftop garden to help solve the air pollution problem, the possibilities of people actually making one is very slim.

 

 

Interview

With:   Ate Tita (Florita Q. Langbayan)

           Ate Flore (Florense S. Baladbad)

 

Q. Do you think that the people here in the Philippines know about the pollution?

 A. Yes, yes. They know about it. But they ignore it. They see the smog. Their kids get sick, but they are just so poor that they don’t have time to think about it. There are people living at garbage dumps, and there kids breathe the air, and drink bad water and get sick. But they find money and other things to sell there so they don’t move and want the garbage to stay. They like it because it’s free. They like cheap. It is the same with other pollution.

 

Q. Is the Philippines doing anything to solve the pollution problems?

 A. Well… Yes, there was the ‘Green Revolution’. The government made laws to plant more plants. Some people followed it, but, you know, it is the Philippines, and people don’t feel that they have to follow laws.

 

Q. Do you think that if everyone planted more plants, on their roofs or not, that there would be less pollution?

 A. Yes, if everyone helps. But only if everyone helps.

 

Q. Do you know of any plants that would be good to plant in a rooftop garden?

A. Like you said earlier, tomatoes are easy to grow. Also egg plants and okra would be good.

 

 

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 Rooftop Garden in pots

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Bibliography

 

26 Apr. 2008 <www.geocities.com>. 

"About Us." The Rooftop Garden Project. Alternatives. 30 Apr. 2008 <http://rooftopgardens.ca>.

"Air Pollution in Davao." Manilenyo in Davao. 11 Dec. 2007. 26 Apr. 2008 <http://tagadavao.wordpress.com>.

Baladbad, Florense S. Personal interview. 29 Apr. 2008. 

"Cherry Tomato." Produce Oasis. P-O-P Interactive, Inc. 23 Apr. 2008 <http://www.produceoasis.com>. 

"Cherry Tomato." Reimer Seeds. 2007. 23 Apr. 2008 <http://www.reimerseeds.com>. 

"Cherry Tomato." Stock Photograqhy. 26 Apr. 2008 <http://www.fotosearch.com>. 

"Cherry Tomato." Wikipedia. 28 Mar. 2008. 23 Apr. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org>. 

The Grow Spot .Com. Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. 23 Apr. 2008 <http://www.thegrowspot.com>.

Langbayan, Florita Q. Personal interview. 29 Apr. 2008. 

Lannotti, Marie. "Tomato Problems - Tomato Diseases: Foliage." About.Com: Gardening. The New York Times Company. 26 Apr. 2008 <http://gardening.about.com>.

"Manila View Pictures and Videos on Webshots." Webshots. AG.Com. 26 Apr. 2008 <www.webshots.com>. 

Morris, Rich. "Cherry Tomato." Plants for a Future. 23 Apr. 2008 <http://www.ibiblio.org/>. 

"Philippines Air, Water Pollution Increasing Alarmingly." 30 Aug. 2000. 23 Apr. 2008 <http://www.acca21.org.cn/eng/2000/08/24.html>. 

"Rooftop Garden and Water-Permeable Pavement Mitigate Heat Island Effect." Japan for Sustainability. 25 Dec. 2003. Japan for Sustainability. 26 Apr. 2008 <http://www.japanfs.org>. 

"Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital Rooftop Garden." The Greenroof Projects Database. 26 Apr. 2008 <www.greenroofs.com>. 

 

 

 

 

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